Ohio saw more than 230 antisemitic incidents in 2024
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Ohio saw more than 230 antisemitic incidents in 2024, a year when anti-Jewish activity reached its highest level recorded in nearly half a century, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
Why it matters: Antisemitic incidents have skyrocketed since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which became a flashpoint on college campuses and a pretext for the Trump administration to later threaten college funding and revoke visas for international students.
- Some Jewish leaders have warned that President Trump's invocation of antisemitism to justify slashing college funds and deporting student protesters risks making Jewish people scapegoats for his policies.
The big picture: The number of antisemitic incidents in the U.S. has surged almost 900% in 10 years, according to an annual ADL survey released last month.
- A majority were related to Israel, the survey found, and there was a marked increase in antisemitic incidents on college campuses — an 84% increase from 2023.
Zoom in: Ohio's total of 233 such occurrences last year was down slightly from 237 in 2023.
- Among the events reported were the Sherwin-Williams headquarters being vandalized with a swastika and multiple incidents at Case Western Reserve University.
- There were also more than a dozen bomb threats made towards synagogues throughout Northeast Ohio.
- A high-profile November neo-Nazi march in Columbus also made the list, along with over 20 cases of reported harassment on Ohio State's campus. Several were related to protests.
What they're saying: "The levels of antisemitism we're seeing across our region should never be accepted and yet have become a persistent reality for Jewish communities," ADL Cleveland regional director Kelly Fishman said last month.
- "The significant increases in campus-based incidents and anti-Israel activity that contain antisemitic elements are particularly troubling and negatively impact our entire community."
By the numbers: The annual ADL audit recorded 9,354 incidents of antisemitic assault, harassment and vandalism across the country in 2024.
- The total represents a 5% increase from 2023 (the last record-setting year).
- It's the highest level recorded since ADL started tracking this data in 1979.
How it works: The ADL defines an antisemitic incident as "vandalism of property, or as harassment or assault on individuals or groups" that indicates "anti-Jewish animus."
- The ADL said it was careful not to "conflate general criticism of Israel or anti-Israel activism with antisemitism." That includes "legitimate" political protests and support for Palestinian rights.
Yes, but: The organization did count incidents as antisemitic if someone called for the destruction of Israel or used antisemitic tropes in discussing Israel.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with more Ohio incidents reported by ADL.